52nd Precinct Takes its First Official HomicideThe 52nd Precinct’s streak of zero murders in 2015 ended last week following the death of a 52-year-old in University Heights. Police say the victim, identified as Delores Scott of Midtown Manhattan, was found with stab wounds to her chest and back in front of 20 West 190 St., a mentoring program, on Feb. 19. She was rushed to St. Barnabas Hospital and was pronounced dead a day later.

Following a description of a suspect, police would later arrest Brandi Simmons, charging him with assault, criminal possession of a weapon and menacing. It’s unclear what sparked the incident.

Brazen Car Thief on the RunPolice in the Five-Two Precinct are on the hunt for a fugitive wanted in connection to a grand theft auto case on Feb.

POLICE RELEASED A video still of a suspect wanted for grand theft auto. Photo courtesy NYPD

15.

Police say the suspect got inside the driver’s seat of a 2005 Honda Odyssey that had been left on by the victim as he was doing business near 213 E. 198th St. at around 4:30 p.m. The suspect soon fled.

A description of the suspect was released. He’s described as a male black wearing a green jacket with a fur hood, a grey knit hat, a grey hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans, black boots, and carrying a black bag.

The public is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS or texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES). Calls are kept confidential.

Fordham Heroin Mill TakedownHeroin continues to be a major problem in central and south Bronx as suggested in a massive heroin mill takedown in Fordham on Feb. 19.

Officers from the Manhattan North Narcotics Major Case Unit rounded up twelve suspects at an apartment on Creston Avenue used to package the hard drugs, police said. In all, $2.5 million worth of heroin was sized.

The case wraps up a four-month investigation into the Creston Avenue building. The Drug Enforcement Agency considers the Bronx a major hub for heroin in the northeast. City health statistics indicate the Bronx was number one for heroin-related deaths in 2013, the most recent statistics available.

DELIVERING HIS SIXTH State of the Borough speech at Bay Plaza Mall, Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. touted 2014’s year of successes.Photo by Jenny Sharp

By DAVID CRUZ

In a State of the Borough speech packed with pomp, ambition and proposals, Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. talked of the Bronx on the mend, powered by a list of accomplishments and tempered gravitas. Read more

We start with turmoil within a sprawling cooperative off West Fordham Road that’s reached its zenith after a group of shareholders gathered to oust the current Board of Directors. Accusations fly all over the place with this story.

Next, the Norwood News has a feature that jumps on the Bronx political coverage—The Bronx Beltway. We highlight several stories swirling around the Bronx political sphere and provide anecdotal analysis. The newest just launched. Expect more in the next editions.

We also have stories on an upcoming flea market for a busy civic organization, a movement that showcases the artistic side of Norwood and your regulars—Inquiring Photographer and Out & About.

We, of course, love feedback from our readers so please email dcruz@norwoodnews.org. If you’re of the traditional type you can also grab your free copy of the Norwood Newsat one of our 300 locations around the northwest Bronx. Til next time!

The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office says that Andre Jamal Thompson, known by associates as “Boogie,” was charged with felony murder for the homicide of Jordan Johnson. The victim was found in a black BMW on 211th Street and Tryon Avenue just off the Major Deegan Expressway and overlooking the Woodlawn Cemetery on Jan. 15.

Investigators learned that Thompson allegedly lured Johnson to an apartment in Fort Lee. Johnson was then attacked and later strangled. His phone, keys and car were later taken. Thompson would then use Johnson’s phone to get his live-in girlfriend out of their apartment so Thompson could rob it of jewelry and cash, according to prosecutors.

After leaving the body in the car, prosecutors say Thompson fled the state, holing himself up in a hotel room in Laurel, Maryland. He was apprehended on Feb. 5. Johnson was brought back to Bergen County. His bail’s set at $2 million.

POLICE SEAL OFF East 211th Street and Tryon Avenue after officers find a dead body in the truck of a 2013 BMW last month.Photo by Miriam Quinn

The case brings about a sense of closure to the Norwood community, where many believed this to be the first homicide of 2015 for the 52nd Precinct. The police had stumbled upon the body, using an automated license plate scanner.

The body had been left in the vehicle overnight in what’s considered a very sleepy part of the neighborhood.

The latest edition of the Norwood News is out with news you can use. It’s been an interesting two weeks compiling relevant stories for the northwest Bronx, and here’s a snapshot of what you’ll find:

– Thousands of tenants are fuming over a rise in a lack of heat and hot water in their building owned by the same firm, The Related Cos. Find out what both sides have to say in this battle that’s just heating up.

Editor’s Note: A fact-finding forum sponsored by Community Board 7 and the neighborhood’s elected officials will be held tonight, February 5 at North Central Bronx Hospital, 3424 Kossuth Ave., 17th floor.

– The Bronx Library Center in Fordham is the borough’s main headquarters for folks to sign up for a free New York City identification card. Find out why elected officials picked the Bronx center as a main post.

– Assemblyman Carl Heastie has now been voted as the next Speaker of the New York State Assembly, one of three powerful positions in state government, alongside the governor. The Bronx is hailing Heastie’s rise, while several editorial boards are calling his ascension a bad idea. Find out why.

– And finally, check out our neighborhood coverage of the winter season’s first major snowstorm and how Norwood fared.

Of course, we have your Norwood News staples featured in this edition–Inquiring Photographer and Out & About, spotlighting some of the cultural events happening around the Bronx.

A hard copy of the newspaper can be found up and down the northwest Bronx. Stop by your neighborhood coffee shop, bank and medical offices to pick up your copy! If you can’t find one, you’ll know where you can see it. Until next time.

The Norwood News trudged out of the Keeper’s House to log the week-long snow removal efforts by residents and city employees. A collection of these photos can be found on our Facebook page. Take a look, “like” them and tell your friends about them!

We’re making our last-minute push for students interested in journalism and writing to sign up for Bronx Youth Heard, the free after school program that empowers students to get their names out there. We are a 12-week workshop that teaches Bronx high school students the fundamentals of journalism, building critical thinking and writing skills.

The application deadline to sign up is today, January 29, and we are welcoming to all Bronx high school students ages 14-18. Classes are held each Thursday (minus holidays) from February 5 until the middle of May at Hostos Community College. The program involves attending the workshop, taking a field trip and learning about the world of journalism as a tool to spark awareness. Students spend several weeks working on a newspaper assignment that’s then published in the Norwood News, which produces 15,000 copies and it’s read by nearly 40,000 readers.

We really encourage parents and teachers to push students with an interest in writing to join Bronx Youth Heard. There is so much to learn.

MARCIA CAMERON (RIGHT) chats with a licensed vendor along the Jerome-Gun Hill Business Improvement District. Cameron faces the constant threat of illegal vendors settling along the Norwood business strip, which she says steers business away from brick and mortar stores. Photo by Adi Talwar

By KIMBERLY C. JACOBS
As one of the busiest shopping corridors in the Bronx, the Jerome-Gun Hill Business Improvement District in Norwood is an attractive area for vendors, both licensed and unlicensed, to set up pop-up businesses on the sidewalk.

The latest digital edition of the Norwood News is now available to read and share with your friends. Check it out via your smartphone or the convenience of your home.

Our second edition of the year features surprising news from developer Mark Stagg, owner of The Stagg Group. The cat was let out of the bag this week when we learned the large-scale developer recently purchased a trio of new properties along Webster Avenue, complementing the other three Stagg properties slated to open. Find out which deeds Stagg took over along the burgeoning corridor The Stagg Group has purchased and what the going price was.

Other stories include a disturbing discovery of a New Jersey man found dead inside the trunk of his car at a quiet street in Norwood, problem vendors along the Jerome-Gun Hill Business Improvement District, a new HIV/AIDS campaign courtesy of the Department of Health and an editorial on the legal loopholes behind the Right to Know bill. We also profile our neighbors in Kingsbridge, exploring the neighborhood’s Business Improvement District and its lone and multi-tasking executive director.

David Cruz (right), program director of Bronx Youth Heard and editor-in-chief of the Norwood News, chats with OPEN 2.0 host Dondre Lemon about the after school journalism program for the 2014 fall session. Photo courtesy OPEN 2.0

The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Heard (formerly known as the Bronx Youth Journalism Initiative), a free after-school journalism program for Bronx high school students. There are two sessions each school year: one in the fall and another in the spring.

We are currently accepting applications for our winter/spring 2015 semester, which is scheduled to start on Thursday, February 5. Classes are held at Hostos Community College, 450 Grand Concourse, on Thursday afternoons from 4 to 6:00p.m., and run for 12 weeks.

Students learn the fundamentals of writing, reporting, and photojournalism through classroom instruction and hands-on reporting in their own neighborhoods. We take them on field trips – including the newsroom of a daily newspaper. They learn about community activism and civic responsibility, how their neighborhoods work (or don’t), who has power, who doesn’t and why. Guest speakers include public figures in the Bronx and professional journalists. Student work is published in a special youth supplement called Bronx Youth Heard, which appears in the Norwood News, giving youth a powerful voice in their own communities. Students who complete the course will receive a recommendation letter from our program coordinator. Depending on the school’s policy, there’s also the possibility of students earning class credit. We are looking for students of all academic abilities, but they should be highly motivated, love to write, be naturally inquisitive, and care about what’s going on in their communities.

To apply,click here and download the application form or fill it out online here. On a separate piece of paper, please also tell us about yourself, your academic and extra-curricular interests, and why you are applying to this program. Your essay should be at least 400 words long and must be typed. Mail your completed application form and essay to Bronx Youth Heard, c/o Norwood News, 3400 Reservoir Oval East, Bronx, NY 10467. Or fax to (718) 324-2917.The application deadline is Wednesday, January 29.

The program was founded in 2008. To read about an earlier semester, and students’ experiences, here’s an article that appeared in City Limits. And here’s an article that appeared in DNAinfo. The program is currently being funded through the city’s Department of Youth and Community Development thanks to the support of local Councilman Fernando Cabrera. Bronx Youth Heard is also supported by Hostos Community College’s College Now program. For more information, please call David Cruz at (718) 324-4998, or e-mail bronxyouthheard@gmail.com.

The award-winning Bronx community newspaper the Norwood News is now accepting applications for the spring semester of Bronx Youth Heard, an after-school journalism program for high school students. The program is free and open to any high school student who lives or goes to school in the Bronx.

Throughout the course of the semester, students learn the fundamentals of writing, reporting, and photojournalism through classroom instruction and hands-on reporting in their own neighborhoods. They learn about community activism and civic responsibility, how their neighborhoods work (or don’t), who has power, who doesn’t and why. We take them on field trips and bring in guest speakers, including working journalists and public figures.

Best of all, at the end of the course, student work is published in a special youth-focused newspaper called Bronx Youth Heard, which appears in 15,000 copies of the Norwood News, giving youth a powerful voice in their own communities—not to mention a newspaper clip to add to their portfolios and college applications. Students will get paid for their published work and we will reimburse for MTA travel.

You can see a copy of Bronx Youth Heard, produced by students enrolled in the fall 2014 semester, here http://bit.ly/BYHPublishedJan2015. Also included is a flier and application form, which students should fill out and submit along with a typed, 400-word essay. In their essays, students should tell us about their academic and extra-curricular activities, which explain why they’re applying to the program and what they hope to get out of it. We’re looking for students of all academic abilities, but they should be highly motivated, love to write, be naturally curious, and care about what’s going on in their communities.

Applications and essays can be submitted online at http://bit.ly/BYHSpring2015.Or sent to: Bronx Youth Heard, c/o Norwood News, 3400 Reservoir Oval East, Bronx, NY 10467. The information can also be emailed to bronxyouthheard@gmail.com.

The Deadline for applying is Thursday, January 29. Classes begin on Thursday, February 5, and are held every Thursday afternoon for 12 weeks from 4 to 6 p.m. at Hostos Community College, located at 450 Grand Concourse. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach David Cruz, editor-in-chief of the Norwood News at (718) 324-4998 or bronxyouthheard@gmail.com. If you’d like to be informed about future semesters, please email as well.

The people of the United States have stood strong with the people of Israel from the day that country was founded in 1947. As the only democracy in the Middle East, and as our key ally in the fight against terrorism, Israel holds a special place in the hearts and minds of Americans. This is especially true in New York City, which has shared a unique and significant relationship with the Jewish people and the state of Israel for decades. Read more

CHRISTOPHER DUNN, a lawyer for the New York Civil Liberties Union, comments on the CCRB’s effectiveness during the Board’s first gathering of 2015.Photo by David Cruz

By David Cruz

In its first meeting of 2015, the Civilian Complaint Review Board revealed it was formally reprimanding seven officers from the 52nd Precinct while already punishing two officers in 2014. Some misconduct included excessive force and abuse of authority, said officials. Read more

One witness, a resident of the block who declined to be identified, recalled, “The paramedic came running out of the building with the baby in his arms. The baby looked blue in the face.”

The witness watched as a police car led the way and a second patrol car followed the ambulance for the half mile drive to Montefiore Hospital, where the child was pronounced dead upon arrival.

Markowsi said the infant had not yet been identified and showed, “no apparent signs of trauma.” She added that detectives were waiting for the medical examiner’s autopsy report to determine if the cause of death was accidental.

Residents said that the building near Webster Avenue provides permanent housing to former homeless families and the mother has not lived in the building very long.

The unidentified grandmother who opened the door to the apartment that had a “Happy Birthday” decoration across it, recalled, “Basically what happened was she rolled over on her stomach and her face was down in the crib and she suffocated.”

The Norwood News is putting its aggregator cap on to bring you Bronx News Roundup, a collection of some of the stories Bronx journalists around the borough are working on.

First up, in light of the freezing temps we’ve been feeling around the borough lately, News 12 The Bronx is reporting on sub-zero conditions at International Leadership Charter School that’s compounded by a running air conditioner.

Over in Hunts Point, food workers are threatening to walk off the job at the Hunts Point Produce Market if they’re denied a $5 raise, reports the Daily News.

If you’re in the northwest Bronx, take a walk to one of 300 locations to pick up your free copy of the Norwood News. Or you could just read it from the comfort of your computer or smart phone. We’re excited to publish the first edition of 2015, loaded with local news, a New Years editorial and our ever-popular Out & About and Neighborhood Notes section.

We’re also proud to host Bob Kappstatter, a guest contributor for the newspaper, who drafted our lead story–year-end crime stats for the 52nd Precinct. Stats show the precinct is headed in a better direction.

We’re also proud to present the 2015 edition of Bronx Youth Heard, a special section of the Norwood News, where several students from Bronx high schools were taught basic journalism skills. Their work is presented in four pages of intriguing stories ranging from computer-mandated homework, teens coping with depression and a cell phone ban that’s soon to be lifted in schools. We’re so proud of the work these students accomplished this year. Worth the read.

So there you have it, this edition’s news-filled publication of the Norwood News. One item before we close: we want 2015 to be the year letters to the editor return, so please send your letters to dcruz@norwoodnews.org. The maximum number of words per letter is 300. Thanks and enjoy reading!

This week we asked readers their thoughts on the recent protests for NYPD reforms and what they think demonstrators are trying to achieve.

I think it’s horrible. These [police officers] are innocent people. If you want to do it, do non-violent protests. I’m from India and the father of our nation, Mahatma Gandhi, got independence from non-violent protests. Like Martin Luther King, he followed the steps of Gandhi. The Justice Department is investigating and they will analyze what happened to Eric Garner and Michael Brown and will take whatever steps need to be taken.–Mohammad Ziauddin

I support the protests as long as they’re peaceful and as long as it’s to further their goal, not to take the law into their own hands, but to express their feelings as long as they do it in a peaceful manner. The way things are going now, I believe this campaign has been hijacked by a couple of guys who don’t want them [the protesters] to get to where they really want to go.–Kahalid Khan

I believe that you have a right to do what you need to do when you see injustice, but that doesn’t reflect the vastness of good men and women in law enforcement who get up every day and wear the uniform and shield and protect and serve our community.–Kenny Agosto

I hope the protesters can achieve what they want, what we all want–an end to violence against black men and all police brutality in general. They need to stop arguing with the cops and try and get the message across without the arguing. And stop calling these cops names. Understand this, every cop is not guilty for what happened to Eric Garner and Mike Brown.–Jonathan Cain

I’m hoping the protesters will bring awareness of what’s happening across the nation and that will bring people, especially our elected officials, to start a conversation on how to fix this broken system because it’s not working the way it is. The mayor has only sat down with one organization so far, and he needs to sit down with everyone.–Quase Beasley

PORING OVER THE Norwood News are staffers for the Mosholu Preservation Corporation (MPC) team (l-r)–David Cruz, editor-in-chief of the Norwood News; Roberto S. Garcia, executive director of MPC; and Marcia M. Cameron, deputy director of MPC. The nonprofit is the publisher of the Norwood News. Photo by Adi Talwar

By DAVID CRUZ

Behind the holiday lights strung throughout four commercial strips, a blueprint for bolstering economic fervor along a major thoroughfare, and a revamped Norwood News, the Mosholu Preservation Corporation (MPC) has overseen it all. And that’s just in 2014. Read more

The northwest Bronx has seen quite a batch of news stories that have gripped, intrigued and caused quite a stir during 2014. The Norwood News tracked many of these stories this year, and in some cases, broken them. As part of a yearly tradition, we look back at some of the top stories of 2014. Read more

A push for calm in the aftermath of two cops fatally shot in Brooklyn has reverberated in the Bronx, with legislators siding with Mayor Bill de Blasio’s stance for unity following weeks of tensions and strained relations.

In Kingsbridge Heights, legislators and residents stood outside the 50th Precinct, pushing for a more tempered city two days after Police Officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu were gunned down by Ismaaiyl Brinsley, a mentally ill Baltimore man bent on killing police officers. Brinsley would later kill himself while on the platform of a subway station. Read more

Hector Aponte, the long serving Bronx Commissioner for the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, is slated to retire. The agency confirmed to the Norwood News of Mr. Aponte leaving office after spending ten years as Bronx parks chief. It’s unclear when Mr. Aponte’s retire date is effective.

Mr. Aponte, who grew up in the Bronx, was appointed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg to serve as the Bronx Parks Commissioner. His first year in the Bronx came amid the early construction phase of the Croton Water Filtration Plan in Van Cortlandt Village, a massive water project tied to a $200 million spending pot for Bronx parks. But under Mr. Aponte’s leadership, a fraction of the money was spent.

Mr. Aponte began working for the Parks Department in 1995, holding various positions that included Parks Manager for Manhattan from 1995 to 2003. He had a brief tenure as Chief of Operations in Staten Island before returning to his home borough.

It’s unclear who will succeed Mr. Aponte. The Bronx is home to the most parkland than the rest of the city.

Thursday brings you another installment of Bronx News Roundup, where we take you around the Bronx to see what our fellow roving reporters are gathering for you. From what we’ve see there’s plenty to write about:

Several outlets are reporting that the Archdiocese of New York is considering the closure of more parishes next year. Preliminary lists show St. Simon Stock Church at 2195 Valentine Avenue may merge with St. Joseph’s Church at 1949 Bathgate Avenue.

A 77-year old resident of the University Nursing Home in University Heights died last Monday after sustaining injury to the lower rear torso. One aide has been arrested, suspected of criminal negligent homicide and felony assault.

Police say the deceased, Frank Mercado, a patient for UNH, was involved in a “physical altercation” inside the nursing home, at 2505 Grand Avenue. The incident occurred at around 11.30 on the morning of Monday, Dec. 8. He was rushed by private ambulance to the Montefiore Medical Center where he passed away. The Medical Examiner rules the incident a homicide.

Cherrylee Young, a 41-year old employee at University Nursing Home, was arrested and charged with criminal negligent homicide, felony assault, and endangering the welfare of an adult.

UNH extended its “deepest sympathies” to Mercado’s family, according spokesman Thomas McCartin. He would not comment beyond that, citing an active NYPD investigation.

Thursday ushers in the latest edition of the Norwood News, available at nearly 300 locations throughout the northwest Bronx. This week we delve into a five-year cluster site in Norwood that’s apparently worn out its welcome, according to rent paying tenants. The Norwood News spoke to both sides, who largely feel misunderstood.

We also look at the Stagg Group as it edges closer to opening its three-building complex along Webster Avenue. By and large the buildings are deemed the linchpin to the building boom happening along the northwest Bronx corridor. Hear what residents have to say about the market rate rents.

We also have your neighborhood staples–Out & About, Inquiring Photographer and Business Beat, which features a two-page story profiling the season of shopping along the Jerome-Gun Hill Business Improvement District.

This week we asked readers if proposed legislation changing NYPD policies (i.e. police requesting those stopped if they can be searched, no arrests for people carrying 25g or less of marijuana, and limiting chokeholds) will help or hurt their fight on crime and violence or police and community relations.

I believe that the police have many options, and if you stop one action, they have many more. I don’t think it will stop the cops from inventing something different. They’ll have options where they can come up to you, search you and throw something in your pocket.Mortee Shannon GarrettKingsbridge

THOUSANDS WALK INTO the doors of VIP Services in Tremont, many of them heroin addicts in the Bronx. Photo by Anton K. Nilsson

By David Cruz

Nearly fifty people streamed inside a cafeteria at a church basement in the South Bronx for a meeting. Handshakes followed by hugs and kisses opened the gathering that would last ninety minutes. Read more

Best Libraries NominationsNominations by the public for the second annual NYC Neighborhood Library Awards run until Dec. 12. The five best libraries win $20,000 each. Nominations can be submitted at www.nyclibraryawards.org.

Domestic Violence Legal OutreachLegal services for domestic violence victims is available on Monday, Nov. 17 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the office of Councilman Andy King, 940 E. Gun Hill Rd. Attorneys with the Urban Justice Center will advise victims about family law, child support, custody, visitation rights and orders of protection. Reservations are required. For more information, call (718) 684-5509.

Veterans Food DriveNon-perishable foods to benefit food pantries for military veterans are being accepted until Nov. 20 at the office of Councilman Andrew Cohen. Items can be dropped off at 277 W. 231st St. For more information, call (718) 549-7300.

Community GrantsCitizens Committee awards micro-grants of up to $3,000 to resident-led groups to work on community and school improvement projects. Groups in low-income neighborhoods and Title I public schools are priority. For more information, contact Tehmina Brohi at tbrohi@citizensnyc.org or (212) 822-9563.

This edition we look at the implications behind the impending closure of Shrine of Saint Ann’s Church in Norwood, one of six churches slated for closure in the Bronx. Michaela Ross picks up the story and what parishioners think on the closure. The feature In The Public Interest focuses on ways the city Education Department intends to fix the overcrowding issue in school districts, a step in the right direction for parents in the ballooning School District 10.

We then feature a new CPR training school breathing new life in Wakefield, Montefiore Medical Center’s latest opening and familiar staples–Out & About and Neighborhood Notes.

Spread the word, tell your friends, and stop by one of the 300-plus locations that carry the Norwood News. Or just read it from the convenience of your computer and ‘like’ us on Facebook!

At the latest Community Board 7 Public Safety Committee meeting on Nov. 6, the newly appointed executive officer of the 52nd Precinct, Captain Jonathan Korabel updated worrisome board members and neighbors about the recent shootings in Norwood and Bedford Park.

The shootings prompted a large response by officers, who’ve now stepped up patrols near the board offices by 204th Street and Valentine. Three weeks ago, shots rang outside the office, startling Board members. The incident within the neighborhood was certainly rare, spurring talk of safety in the community. An NYPD light tower has been set up there.

Still, Capt. Korabel noted that the 52nd Precinct saw crime drop 11 percent in the past month. Further arrests in violent crimes and gun arrests increased compared to the same time a year ago, according to figures.

“We hit it in the right direction,” said Korabel. “And the police officers are working hard to get those guns off the street.”

But despite an overall crime rate that often rises and falls on given weeks, plenty voiced worries the neighborhood, for the time being, is unsafe.

“Everybody here is very concerned about how the crime rate is going up,” said Adaline Walker-Santiago, Chairperson of Community Board 7.

Lt. Korabel, speaking on behalf of Inspector Nilda Hoffman who was unavailable for the meeting, announced the latest developments in terms of recent shootings.

Police have made headway in a recent shooting outside a Fordham nightclub on Valentine Avenue and Fordham Road, apprehending two suspects involved in that crime. A shooting at 3083 Decatur Avenue and the other near the Board office are still under investigation.

The safety protocols have been welcomed by the community, though many fear crime will further rise should the extra police and light tower be removed from the neighborhood.

Korabal said that those measures are intended to “to give the community a sense of safety.” He added the police have no plans on removing the tower or the patrols as long if no improvement shows in the neighborhood.

“So hopefully that will help move the elements that causing problems out of the area,” said Korabel.

ELECTION DAY 2014 is in full swing, with voters heading in and out of polls around the Bronx. This voter walks out of P.S. 94 in Norwood.Photo by Kasia Romanowska

by David Cruz

The forecast this Election Day is calling for mild weather for early November. It’s a perfect time to vote! Polls at schools, community centers and senior centers are open until 9 p.m. in a General Election that’s already perceived as having a very low voter turnout despite a New York gubernatorial contest that needs to be decided.

The top races in the Bronx have already been decided during the September Democratic primary, considered more important given the overwhelming number of registered Democrats in the Bronx. The Bronx Democratic County Committee helped garner wins for its incumbents, though their influence wasn’t enough in the 79th Assembly District when political newcomer Michael Blake edged out party favorite Marsha Michael.

The Norwood News, your bi-weekly community newspaper you know and love to read is out once again, both on the digital format and over 200 locations in the northwest Bronx. In this edition we take an in-depth look at the super high-tech ShotSpotter system slated to arrive within the 52nd Precinct. Hear from Inspector Nilda Hofmann who can’t wait to see the system up and running in the station house that covers Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and Kingsbridge.

We’ve also bridged the divide between newspaper and digital news with Norwood News Online, a feature showcasing some web exclusives that can only be found on www.norwoodnews.org. Read all about a campaign to curb teen pregnancies, a spelling bee
B-O-N-A-N-Z-A at P.S. 94, an outraged Fordham Business Improvement District that’s dealing with a CAR-tastrophe and a bitter debate about police accountability.

So stop by the many diners, clinics, banks and stores for your copy of the Norwood News, or read all about it from the convenience of your computer. Until next time!

EPHRAIM CRUZ STANDS as he confronts members of the 52nd Precinct Community Council over police tactics.Photo by David Cruz

By David Cruz

One day after celebrating her 24th year at the NYPD, Inspector Nilda Hofmann faced a tense standoff with two police skeptics calling for more accountability within the Police Department. Their weapons: debate and rebuttals that seared with hostility.

If you had the chance to fill the role of New York City Councilmember, where would you earmark $1 million in capital funds? It’s a question Councilman Andy Cohen will continue posing in his latest round of Participatory Budget sessions, a yearlong process where locals as young as 14-years-old in his 11th Council District can offer input on how to spend taxpayer monies to better their communities.

“Participatory Budgeting is the true definition of bringing government to the people,” said Cohen, in a statement. “Through this process we will engage residents, increase civic participation and give the public more confidence in government.”

There are caveats– proposals must be a construction or renovation project, cost a minimum of $35,000, and proven be a boon to the public for more than five years. The winning bid must be submitted by the middle of 2015.

For more information on the process, residents are asked to call Councilman Cohen’s office at (718) 549-7300.

After a wild murderous melee outside a local night club, we asked readers their thoughts on the club scene and how guests can stay safe.

I think that economically they actually help the community with their taxes, but there’s a lot of danger because it’s not really positive or energetic because most people want to get loose and go wild. And that can lead to negativity. So violence-wise it’s a bad thing, but economically it’s a good thing.Joshua Cabrera, KingsbridgeRead more

The dream of an ice center is now closer to reality. Photo rendition courtesy KNIC

by David Cruz

The i’s have been dotted. The t’s crossed. The lawsuits cleared.

Now the Kingsbridge National Ice Center is officially set to bring the world’s largest skating center to the long vacant Kingsbridge Armory after a bumpy start. Kevin Parker, the lead developer of the complex, officially signed a 99-year lease with the city Economic Development Corporation this week, two weeks after a judge ruled he is the sole developer of the $350 million project.

“Reaching this juncture caps a monumental effort from community partners, elected officials and local residents who joined us in dreaming big – in supporting our vision,” said Parker in a statement. “We look forward to advancing what promises to be one of the most exciting development projects in New York City history.”

Kyle Kimball, running the city EDC, said called the news an “important step towards the realization of this project, and the significant economic benefits it will generate for the Bronx.” That includes living wage judges, community space and local hiring, as per terms laid out in a Community Benefits Agreement. An after school ice hockey component will also be included, with Olympic gold medalist Sarah Hughes and KNIC CEO Mark Messier lobbying foundations for support grants.

But the lease did come with some terms, namely that Parker assure the EDC he has the capital to get the project off the ground. At a recent Community Board 7 committee, members revealed that Parker has one year to reveal he has funding.

The latest development comes after a Bronx judge ruled that Kevin Parker is the sole developer of the Armory project and not Jonathan Richter, Jeff Spiritos, Marcos Wignell, the trio that led talks with the community as the project was being vetted.

In July, the three plaintiffs had asked a judge to bar Parker from speaking with the city Economic Development Corporation, the real estate arm of the city, over lease negotiations on the Armory. The latest development allows Parker to continue his talks with the city over when a lease will be sign, clearing KNIC to repurpose the Armory into an ice skating center complete with nine sheets of ice and a 5,000 arena for $350 million.

The trio’s lead attorney , Ernest Badway, refused to comment on the ruling.

Parker’s attorney, Bill Brewer, emphasized that the three plaintiffs “had no right to interfere with this project or impede its progress.”

But the summer-long lawsuits have likely pushed back construction of the massive ice center, originally slated to wrap up construction by 2017. The project is now a year delayed. Once the site is built it will activate the Community Benefits Agreement, a legally binding document hammered out by the community stakeholders and KNIC. The agreement tacks on stipulations that include local hiring, a one percent revenue sharing plan, and an allocation of 50,000 square feet of community space at the Armory’s lower levels.

And even as KNIC plowed through the judicial channels, it was able to secure financing from various groups, namely The Kresge Foundation. Driven by its need for “social investment” the philanthropic organization agreed to serve as the lead investor in a $30 million equity raise for KNIC.

Take participatory budgeting, a Tour de Bronx, the rebirth of the NCBH maternity ward and the list of Norwood’s worst landlords and you have the latest edition of the Norwood News, hitting newsstands at over 200 locations in the northwest Bronx. This week we explore key events happening in the community for you to share with friends and family.

Check out roving reporter Hayley Camacho’s article on shady landlords whose buildings have made life hell for tenants in Norwood and Bedford Park. The responses she gathered are quite interesting.

Next, we give you an update to a murderous melee that took place in Fordham Road, followed by a nagging quality of life issue at the Pickwick Arms, a historic building at the northern tip of the Grand Concourse.

VICTOR ROSARIO, A tenant at 3450 Decatur Ave., shows off a series of letters blasting management. The Norwood residence is managed by one of the city’s worst landlords. Clothes and a black trash bag work as insulation against a window that won’t close. Photo by Adi Talwar

By Hayley Camacho

On his dining room table, Victor Rosario has six letters from the city Department of Housing Preservation and Development’s Code Enforcement Division certifying the numerous violations in his apartment at 3540 Decatur Ave. Rosario has been fighting an uphill battle for the last several years to get the landlord, Bob-Al Management Corp, to make the necessary repairs. Read more